Tag: tomato

Is the garden producing more vegetables than you can use right now, or have you been tempted by the beautiful produce at the farmers market? Here is a quick “how to” on blanching vegetables for the freezer.

Blanching tomatoes

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a small amount of produce (typically a quart or less) to the pot. When the water returns to a boil, set your timer. If you use a colander or metal basket you can place the vegetables into the boiling water easily and remove them quickly when the timer rings. Next, plunge the vegetables into cold or ice water for at least as long as the blanching time. This step will stop the cooking process. Drain the vegetables, package them, and freeze. Remember to use freezer containers or bags and not storage bags. The freezer bags and containers are not permeable to the air in the freezer and will protect your vegetables until you are ready to eat them.

Hint: If you want to have “free flowing” vegetables like those you buy at the store, freeze the vegetables on a tray or cookie sheet overnight and then place them in the freezer bags.

Blanching time for vegetables varies with the type of vegetable. This link will take you to the University of Georgia’s website—The National Center for Home Food Preservation. This page has a lengthy list of vegetables and the appropriate blanching time for each.

I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Food Science at Iowa State University. I love to quilt, sew, cook, and bake. I spent many years gardening, canning, and preserving food for my family when my children were at home.

Late last summer my garden was producing more delicious tomatoes than I could easily use. I was in the mood for a savory pie but not ready to put the work into making a regular two crust pie with top and bottom crust, crimping the edges, etc. I decided to make a Galette, another name for a rustic pie, requiring much less effort. French in origin, a Galette is a single pastry crust rolled into as large or small a circle as you desire. The filling can be either sweet or savory and is only limited by your imagination. Common fillings include fruit, jam, vegetables such as tomatoes and nuts, meat and cheese. Create a filling as if making it for a pie, dollop it into the center of your dough and leave 1 ½ inch border. Fold the uncovered border over the edge of the filling and pinch into pleats. Bake as you would a pie and enjoy! Since my tomato plants are not even in the garden yet, I’m thinking about making a spring-themed galette in the coming days. The biggest decision I now have is to decide between a savory asparagus/parmesan galette or a sweet/tart rhubarb galette. Maybe I’ll make both!

I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Food Science at Iowa State University. I love to quilt, sew, cook, and bake. I spent many years gardening, canning, and preserving food for my family when my children were at home.